RCAC plans Canada 150 arts celebration

The local arts council is planning a three-day celebration in October and local artists are invited to get involved.

The Rossland Council for Arts and Culture (RCAC) plans to celebrate Canada 150 and the Miners’ Hall’s newly renovated attic space with an exhibition and events from Oct. 13 to 15.

Local artists are invited to submit to the exhibition and to a poetry, spoken word and song contest.

For the Echoes of Rossland: Past and Present Poetry, Spoken Word &Songwriting Contest, West Kootenay residents can submit original poetry, spoke word or songs by Sept. 15.

Entrants will showcase their work at a performance on Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. at the Miners’ Hall.

“It’s sort of like a special edition of the Joe Hill Coffeehouse and what we’re hoping is to be able to get out people of all ages that do poetry in their spare time or that write songs or do spoken word and give them a chance to showcase it,” said Sammantha Parrott, executive assistant at the RCAC.

For adults (18 over) there will be a $150 prize for each category and for youth (18 and under) there will be one overall prize of $150.

The Canada 150 Cultural Landscapes Art Exhibition will open on Oct. 13 at 5 p.m. and will remain on display in the Miners’ Hall attic until Oct. 15.

Artists are invited to submit up to two pieces in any medium.

“There’s a loose theme of cultural landscapes, which includes people, places, nature, cities — really anything I would say — plus we’re accepting any and all visual mediums,” says Parrott.

The deadline for submissions to the exhibition is also Sept. 15.

All those who enter the contest or submit to the exhibit will receive a complimentary RCAC membership.

“We just want more artists to be members of the RCAC so that we can reach them easier and engage them and inform them of grant opportunities easier and work opportunities,” explains Parrott.

There are also plenty of other events planned for the weekend.

On Friday, Sept. 13 at 7:30 p.m. there will be a live comedy show called The Canada Show.

“It’s the complete history of Canada in one hour,” says Parrott.

Saturday, Sept. 14 at 7:30 p.m. there will be a community dance featuring the band, The Devil You Don’t, and Sexton Blake as the opener.

Sunday, Sept. 15 at 1 p.m. the Purple Pirate will be at the Miners’ Hall for a theater performance and craft workshop.